Nick Malazarte, Visayas coordinator of Ikaw Muna Pilipinas, explains why the group is shifting its support for the candidacy of Leni Robredo for president instead of Isko Moreno. | screngrab from CDN Digital video
CEBU CITY, Philippines –Ikaw Muna (IM) Pilipinas, a group of supporters of presidential candidate Isko Moreno-Domagoso, has shifted its support to Vice President Leni Robredo for this year’s elections.
Nick Malazarte, the Visayas coordinator of the IM Pilipinas, confirmed this in a press conference here on Monday, April 4, 2022.
Malazarte said that after a series of discussions on the current trend in the campaign showing that the fight for the Presidency has narrowed down to Robredo and Bongbong Marcos, the group decided to shift its support to the vice president.
Malazarte said the group’s more pressing concern is Marcos’ possibility of winning the presidency.
“We are idealistic, but it must be tempered with reality. That ours is a losing battle and the only way to win against BBM is through VP Leni,” Malazarte said.
According to Malazarte, IM Pilipinas was founded by individuals who opposed Martial Law in 70s to 80s and have fought for the removal of the late President Ferdinand Marcos.
Considering the current state of the elections, IM Pilipinas has seen the necessity to shift their support to Robredo instead because she is “most likely” to win against Marcos with her “high ratings.”
“We still maintain that Isko is still very good. But the thing is the numbers are not working for him,” Malazarte said.
IM Pilipinas has already discussed its plans with Domagoso’s campaign team and signified its withdrawal from his campaign.
Malazarte said it was not difficult to make the decision because IM Pilipinas funded its own campaign for Domagoso and they did not get funds from the Manila Mayor’s own campaign team.
Since the IM Pilipinas has already shifted its support, it is now in talks with the campaign team of Robredo on how to help boost her campaign.
The group is urging supporters of Isko to support Robredo for a sure win against Marcos in the May 9 elections.
Malazarte is also encouraging supporters of other candidates such as those supporting Senators Manny Pacquiao and Panfilo Lacson, to consider shifting their support to Robredo as well.
At this point of the elections, he said that unity is what the opposition needs to prevent Marcos from taking Malacanan’s seat.
While IM Pilipinas is supporting Robredo, they are still yet to decided if they will support Robredo’s runningmate, Senator Francisco “Kiko” Pangilinan as well for vice president.
Watch Malazarte’s video here:
/bmjo
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